Indiana Fairgrounds prepares for big gun show following presidential announcement

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One of the biggest gun and knife shows in the Midwest is expected to draw record crowds this weekend in Indianapolis.

“We’ve been here 30 years. This is our 117th gun show. These are great family affairs and if you’ve never been to a gun show, please come out,” said Ashley Varner of the Indy 1500 Gun & Knife Show.

The Indy 1500 Gun and Knife Show opens Friday and runs this weekend at the South Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. It is the first of five shows scheduled this year with 250 vendors selling everything from rifles and shotguns to handguns and ammunition.

Gun shops all over Central Indiana say they have been extremely busy over the past couple of months and have gotten even busier since President Obama announced his plan to reduce gun violence. Gun owners are rushing out to buy items they think could be banned in the future.

“You have law-abiding gun owners coming out here. They are concerned, talking and sharing ideas and they are purchasing firearms because they don’t know what the plan is going to be,” said Varner.

The run on guns and ammo across the nation has some law enforcement departments seeing a shortage in the ammunition they use to train officers. Public Safety Director Troy Riggs said the shortage is not affecting officers on the streets in Indianapolis.